The home-buying process is oftentimes a long and tedious (often frustrating) process, with many factors contributing to this fact. Aside from the financial strain it puts on you, another factor that increases the stress levels of people who buy homes is dealing with real estate agents. It's very unfortunate that there are some people who get mixed up with real estate agents who are unethical or are just plain annoying and difficult to work with. The fact is that real estate agents can really help you with the home buying process by putting you in touch with home sellers and other people who can help you with the process, from where you can get mortgages to where you can ask for home inspectins. They can be a significant help for you if only you can find the right one; somebody who is trustworthy, has good business ethics, and has a good track record.

If you don't have your own network of professionals and home sellers (and if you're not in the business, you probably won't), having the help of a real estate agent can be invaluable. Here are a few suggestions to help you find a real estate agent that can be helpful to you rather than a burden or a liability in the long run.

Start from getting referrals.

Get referrals from trusted sources such as your family members and friends. Because real estate agents are sales people, they rely on word of mouth to get them a better quality of clientele. When people are satisfied with their service, chances are they'll recommend these agents to family and friends.

Hold an interview with prospective agents before anything else.

Many people skip this and just take the real estate agent who can present them with a home that they like on first sight. However, interviewing a potential candidate is an important stage that will assure you get a better chance of working with somebody you're confident with. When interviewing an agent, it's also best to know whether they're working full time or part time. If you want an agent to focus on your needs, it may be best to get somebody who's a full-time agent.

It's also good to find out if they are successful at what they do. Ask how many houses they've sold for the past year or so; this will help you gauge how good they are at their business. Get names of their past clients who are willing to be references for the agent. When the agent gives you these numbers, call them. Many people skip on this and miss the opportunity to get to know their prospective agent's past clients. Take the time to call these people and ask them how satisfied they are with the agent's service.

Make sure the agent has access to databases of listings.

Since you'll want to look at many houses, it's important that your agent has many houses to show you. If the agent will insist on only showing you limited houses based on their limited listings, then they may just end up talking you into buying something you're not entirely sold on.

Make sure your agent is responsive to your communications.

If the agent takes his/her time to reply to your messages, calls, or email, then it may not exactly be the most ideal working relationship that you'll be able to stick with through the process. Pick somebody who replies in a prompt way and offers different ways to be reached.